$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
muscle building supplement scam
Supplements claiming to dramatically increase muscle mass or boost testosterone use fabricated before-and-after photos and fake pro athlete endorsements to sell ineffective or unsafe products.
“health supplement scam”
↑ 108.7%Key indicators
Usually targetsHealth-conscious consumers
Often hitsTech workers and developers
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$640
median reported loss
Typical range$40 – $4.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
Marketers target fitness enthusiasts with ads showing dramatic muscle transformations and fake endorsements from athletes or fitness influencers.
2
The product is sold at premium prices as a proprietary blend, making it impossible for consumers to verify ingredient amounts.
3
Independent testing frequently reveals that such products contain little to no active ingredients at effective dosages.
What to do first
Look for supplements that disclose exact ingredient amounts rather than hiding behind proprietary blends.
Related terms
fake testosterone boostermuscle pill scambodybuilding supplement fraudHealth product scamsWebsiteSurgingHealth-conscious consumersDietersOlder adultsTech workers and developersRetirees and seniorsOnline shoppersUnited StatesCanadaUnited Kingdomfake testosterone boostermuscle pill scam
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Andrew, 35, a health-conscious consumers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate health product scams situation while using Website. Marketers target fitness enthusiasts with ads showing dramatic muscle transformations and fake endorsements from athletes or fitness influencers.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: The product is sold at premium prices as a proprietary blend, making it impossible for consumers to verify ingredient amounts.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Independent testing frequently reveals that such products contain little to no active ingredients at effective dosages.
The outcome
Andrew realized something was wrong when the product claims steroid-like results without side effects. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Look for supplements that disclose exact ingredient amounts rather than hiding behind proprietary blends. Andrew's experience shows why the product claims steroid-like results without side effects and endorsements from professional athletes or bodybuilders cannot be verified are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- The product claims steroid-like results without side effects
- Endorsements from professional athletes or bodybuilders cannot be verified
- The supplement contains a proprietary blend that hides individual ingredient amounts
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Look for supplements that disclose exact ingredient amounts rather than hiding behind proprietary blends.
- ✓Check for third-party testing certifications from NSF Certified for Sport or Informed Sport.
- ✓Consult a sports nutritionist or healthcare provider before taking any muscle-building supplement.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- The FDA has issued warnings about dietary supplements marketed for muscle building that contained undeclared anabolic steroids or other pharmaceutical ingredients.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Look for supplements that disclose exact ingredient amounts rather than hiding behind proprietary blends.
- ✓Check for third-party testing certifications from NSF Certified for Sport or Informed Sport.
- ✓Consult a sports nutritionist or healthcare provider before taking any muscle-building supplement.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
The FDA has issued warnings about dietary supplements marketed for muscle building that contained undeclared anabolic steroids or other pharmaceutical ingredients.
FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Health-conscious consumers, Dieters, Older adults, Social media users
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia
Primary channel
Website — Health product scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Health-conscious consumers are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The rapid increase in reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- The FDA has issued warnings about dietary supplements marketed for muscle building that contained undeclared anabolic steroids or other pharmaceutical ingredients.
Source notes
- FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about muscle building supplement scam
How does the muscle building supplement scam work?+
Marketers target fitness enthusiasts with ads showing dramatic muscle transformations and fake endorsements from athletes or fitness influencers. The product is sold at premium prices as a proprietary blend, making it impossible for consumers to verify ingredient amounts. Independent testing frequently reveals that such products contain little to no active ingredients at effective dosages.
What are the warning signs of muscle building supplement scam?+
The product claims steroid-like results without side effects Endorsements from professional athletes or bodybuilders cannot be verified The supplement contains a proprietary blend that hides individual ingredient amounts
What should I do if I encounter muscle building supplement scam?+
Look for supplements that disclose exact ingredient amounts rather than hiding behind proprietary blends. Check for third-party testing certifications from NSF Certified for Sport or Informed Sport. Consult a sports nutritionist or healthcare provider before taking any muscle-building supplement.
Who is most at risk for muscle building supplement scam?+
This scam primarily targets Health-conscious consumers, Dieters, Older adults, Social media users. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and typically appears on Website.
Is muscle building supplement scam getting worse?+
muscle building supplement scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US, CA, UK, AU. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.